Surely, everyone will get it.

* * *

After work, I do a little shopping for the costume then head to the racquetball club to take my mind off work for a bit.

My sister, Olivia, joins me, her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, her game face on. “Get ready for me to crush you and crush you quickly, because I have plans tonight.”

“Got a hot date?”

She looks at me. “Yes, with my six-month-old. It’s called breastfeeding, and she’s going to be hungry in about an hour.”

“Glad to hear you still know how to party. How is my perfect niece?”

She points her racket at me. “Zoe is awesome, even though her uncle is being a pain in the ass for saying I have no life.”

“Teasing.” I grab a ball and bounce it. “Although, clearly you have no life if you’re hanging out with a guy like me.” I lower my goggles, lift the ball, and smash it toward the wall.

“I’m not teasing when I say I’m going to kick your pain-in-the-butt ass.” As the ball rockets to her, she slams it back.

We proceed to pummel the hell out of the ball for the next thirty minutes. Olivia works in the same field as me—she’s an ethical hacker, and like me, she’s also highly competitive. She also hates when I win, so she makes sure I don’t, finishing our match with a victory at the last second.

She smacks my shoulder. “Take that. Your older sister still has it, even while she’s nursing.”

Panting, I grab a water bottle and down a gulp. “Damn, you and your boobs are the toughest. Also, can we pretend I totally did not acknowledge your boobs right now?”

She thrusts out her chest. “You can’t deny what nature gave me and what my baby made even bigger.”

I cringe and cover my eyes. “Make it stop. Put on a bag.”

When I open my eyes, she says, “Speaking of hot dates, what’s your excuse for hanging out with me when you could be, I dunno, out with a sexy single woman? Assuming any sexy single woman would want you.”

“Thank you, as always, for your support.”

“It’s endless.”

I grab a towel and wipe my brow, answering her seriously now, “Same old story. Two days ago, I was propositioned after a keynote speech.”

Her eyes widen. “For sex?”

“No, for marriage. That’s what made it even crazier,” I say and share the details of Nova’s pitch to become Mrs. Flynn Parker.

“Damn,” she says, whistling, “it must suck to be you.”

She raises her racquet like a violin and plays a lament.

“Tell me about it. It was as sad as a sad song.”

“Seriously, though, can you even imagine what it’s like for athletes and really rich and famous people?”

“I can’t. I honestly don’t see how you could ever trust that someone was truly into you. Especially given what happened with Annie last year.” I shudder at the memory of my ex.